Articulated locomotive



March 32, 1929, BRUCE ARTIGULATED LOCOMOTIVE Filed Dec. 1926 w mzm Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALFRED W. BRUCE, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

ARTICULATED LOCOMOTIVE.

Application filed December 8, 1926. Serial No. 153,308.

, 'tofore known, and which will also n'laterially increase the factor of safety, and effect a substantial economy in maintenance cost. A further object is to integrally combine in such structures certain associated parts heretofore separately formed and applied, such as the cylinders, boiler saddle c-rossbearers, buffer beam, draft pockets,'and hinge tongue.

Articulated locomotives are provided with two principal driving units, pivot-ally coupled together, each having a bed, comprising two main side frames, and a plurality of crossties. Heretofore it has been the practice to form the parts of the bed separately, and to secure them, together by bolts or rivets. It has also been the practice to form, as separate parts, and bolt them to the bed, the buffer beam, cylinders, boiler saddle crossbearers, draft pockets, and hinge tongue. Such constructions are-seriously disadvantageous, in that certain of the parts must' be formed with flanges to effect the bolted connections, which involves a double thickness of metal at the joints, entailing a material increase in Weight and cost of production. A further disadvantage is the expense involved in assembling the parts, and machining them, to insure proper fits. Frequently, theclearance between adjacent parts is so limited as to make the operation of applying the bolts or rivets, an extremely difficult one. Other disadvantages are the cost of frequent inspection required to insure that the parts are tight, and the loss entailed by the withdrawal of the locomotive from service, for repairs.

A further disadvantage is the comparatively low degree of durability and rigidity of the structure.

The various disadvantages noted. are overcome, under my an integral casting, certain or all of the parts referred to, which have heretofore been fabricated together.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1, is a diagrammatic side view of a locomotive embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same, with the boiler and firebox removed; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the ,arate castings,

invention, by combining, in

line a a of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a transverse section on the line Z) Z) of Fig. 1; and. Fig. 5,

a transverse section on the line 0 c of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exen'iplitied as applied to an articulated locomotive having two. driving units, there is provided, for the front unit, a bed, 10, hnd, fo the rear unit. a bed, 11. Each bed is mounted on a plurality of axles, 12, on which are secured driving wheels, 13. The front bed, 10,. comprisestwo main side frames, 14: each formed with pedestals; U shape top and bottom rails; a cylinder saddle. 15; and a box-shape front frame, 16. The

main side frames are connected together by X shape crossties, 17,

one disposed between the axles of each pair, the upper legs of which crossties are connected to the top rails of the side frames, and the lower legs to the bottom rails thereof. The upper legs of each of the crossties are connected together by a cross member, 18, and the lower legs thereof, by a cross member, 19. The rear ends of the side frames are connected by a cross member, 20, rearwardly from which extends the hinge tongue, 21, formed with an eye for the reception of the hinge pin, 23. Connected to the forward end of the front frame, 16, is a buffer beam, 24, towhich is connected the draft pocket, 25. Disposed above each of the crossties, is a boiler saddle cross-bearer, 26, of sufficient length to provide for centering bracket supports. All of the described parts are preferably formed together as an integral, or one piece casting, but it is to be understood that the hinge tongue, boiler saddle crossbearers, and the buffer beam may be formed separately, and assembled on the bed casting.

While the cylinders, 27, are shown as sepit is within the contemplation of the invention to form them integrally with the bed.

The bolted attachment of the hinge tongue, in accordance with prior practice, has been a source of considerable objection, and the elimination thereof marks an important step of improvement in the art.

The rear bed, 11, comprises two main side frames, 28, each formed with pedestals, and U-shape top and bottom rails. The rear ends of the side frames are connected together by a box shape member, in which is provided a draft pocket, 29. The cylinder saddle, 30, connects the front ends of the side frames to gether and is formed with a hinge tongue pocket, 31. A furnace bearer crosstie, 32, connects the frames intermediate their length. All ofthe described parts of the rear bed are preferably formed together as a one-piece, or integral casting.

Although the cylinders, 33, on the rear bed, are shoWn as separably attached thereto, it is within the contemplation of the invention to form them integrally therewith.

' I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a locomotive of the articulatedtype, the combination of two main driving units, each con'iprising a plurality of axles, one of said units having mounted on its axles, a bed embodying a hinge tongue pocket and the other unit embodying a hinge tongue, and a one-piece casting, comprising two main side frames, a pluralitv of crosstie members, a boiler saddle'crossbearer, a cylinder saddle, and'a cylinder.

2* In a locomotive of the articulated type, the combination of two main driving units, each comprising a plurality of axles, one of said units having mounted on its axles, a bed embodying a hinge tongue pocket; and the other unit embodying a hinge tongue, and a one-piece casting, comprising two main side frames, a plurality of crosstie membersoconnecting the side frames, 21 front frame, a buffer beam, a boiler saddle crossbearer, and a cylinder saddle.

3. In a locomotive of the articulated type, the combination of two main driving units, each comprising a plurality of axles; one of said units having mounted on its axles, a bed embodying a hinge tongue pocket; and the other unit having mounted on its axles, a onepiece casting, comprising two main side frames, a plurality of crosstie members connecting the side frames, a hinge tongue, 9. front frame, a boiler saddle crossbearer, a cylinder saddle, a cylinder, and a buffer beam.

4. In a locomotive of the articulated type,

the combination of two main driving units,

each comprising a plurality of axles; one of said units having mounted on its axles, a bed embodying a hinge tongue pocket; and the other unit having mounted on its axles, a One- 

